The Metal Hero Manual, Version 1.2, Part 1: The Space Sheriff
Series
(95.10.15.23:35/11.3.17:45/11.18.14:50/12.19.15:07)
(c) 1995 Marc H. Miyake miyake@Hawaii.Edu
This copyright applies only to this Manual and not to the Metal
Heroes and/or any other properties of Toei, TV Asahi, or Asahi
Tsushinsha (ASATSU).
This document may be distributed in part or in whole as long as
this copyright notice is preserved.
What's new in this edition:
Credits and episode titles
Thanks to Robert Rosenberg for some of the VRT equivalents.
Contents
Part 1: The Space Sheriff Series
0. Introduction
1. Space Sheriff Gavan (1982-83)
2. Space Sheriff Sharivan (1983-84)
3. Space Sheriff Shaider (1984-85)
Part 2: Alien Metal Heroes
4. Megabeast Special Investigation Juspion (1985-86)
5. Dimensional Warrior Spielban (1986-87)
Part 3: Robot Metal Heroes
6. Super Man Machine Metalder (1987-88)
7. Mobile Detective Jiban (1989-90)
Part 4: Rescue Metal Heroes (coming December 1995?)
8. Special Police Winspector (1990-91; a.k.a. Special Rescue
Police...)
9. Special Rescue Command Solbrain (1991-92; a.k.a. Super
Rescue...)
10. Special Investigation Exceedraft (1992-93; a.k.a. Special
Rescue...)
Part 5: Miscellaneous Metal Heroes (coming December 1995?)
11. Special Investigation Robo Janperson (1993-94)
12. Blue SWAT (1994-95)
13. Heavy Armor Beetle Fighter (1995-96; a.k.a. Beefighter)
Much of the folowing is based on (but not a direct translation
of) Keibunsha's _Zen kaijuu kaijin_ (1990 ed. 2 vols.),
Shogakkan's Winspector and Solbrain _Chouzenshuu_, etc.
Consult the original sources for more information. The
purpose of this Manual is to give essential information in
English, not to replicate these works.
Only Toei shows in the orthodox Metal Hero lineage are covered;
I plan to cover other robot and armor shows such as Kikaider,
Robot Detective K, Zaboga, Kyoudain, Cybercops, etc. in future
Manuals.
0. Introduction
Until 1982, tokusatsu heroes came in basically three strains.
First, the giant heroes, second, the Kamen Riders and other
solo heroes (see my Kamen Rider Manual), and third but not
last, the sentai (see my Sentai Series Manual). A fourth
genre, the Metal Hero genre, emerged in 1982 with the debut of
Toei's Space Sheriff Gavan. (That is, if you don't consider
this genre to be a branch of the 'solo hero' genre. One might
consider the Metal Heroes to be the Kamen Rider solo heroes of
the 80s--but not the 90s, which have come to be dominanted by
metal hero groups from Winspector onward.)
The key idea that distinguished the Metal Heroes from previous
tokusatsu heroes was that of the armored suit. Although the
idea of costumes giving their wearers superhuman abilities did
not start with the Metal Heroes--an early example is Light
Speed Esper (1967)--the idea of such a suit actually looking
like armor did. Some might think that Robocop inspired the
Metal Heroes, but in reality, it may have been the other way
around. Robocop (1987) appeared five years after Space Sheriff
Gavan, the first of the Metal Heroes. (Can anyone confirm or
deny this claim?)
A secondary innovation distinguishing the early Metal Heroes
from their predecessors was the use of alternate dimensions
and teleportation. As Keibunsha's _Zen Kaijuu Kaijin Vol. 2_
puts it, "...One more question that pestered henshin [series]
up until now--why would a monster that was kicked among the
buildings of Shinjuku explode at a site of nothing but rocks?"
finally received a clear answer in [Gavan]." In Gavan, the
concept of the "Makuu Space" appeared, allowing Gavan to
continue battles started in Tokyo in an otherdimensional realm.
But until recently, Metal Heroes have turned away from
otherdimensional battle, focusing instead on more earthly
concerns--rampaging Earth androids in Metalder, biotech crime
in Jiban, emergencies in Winspector, Solbrain, and Exceedraft,
and technocrime in Janperson. Only within the last two years
have the Metal Heroes begun to look spaceward, with the
anti-alien Blue SWAT and Beetle Fighter.
1.-3. The Space Sheriff (Uchuu Keiji) series (1982-85)
(Note that 'Uchuu Keiji' literally means 'Space Detective.' The
term 'Space Sheriff' is apparently Toei's unofficial
translation.)
1. Space Sheriff Gavan (Uchuu Keiji Gyaban)
82.3.5-83.2.25
Network: TV Asahi
44 episodes, color
Fridays, 19:30-20:00
Creator: Hatte Saburou (Toei house pseudonym)
Producers: Yoshikawa Susumu, Orita Itaru, Usui Yuuyake
Directors: Kobayashi Yoshiaki, Okunaka Atsuo, Tanaka Hideo,
Ogasawara Takeshi, Hattori Kazuyasu
Writers: Uehara Shouzou, Takaku Susumu, Matsushita Mikio, Abe
Kazue, Nagai Tatsurou, Tsutsui Tomomi, Hayashi Tsuyoo, others
SFX: Yajima Nobuo
Music: Watanabe Michiaki
Cast:
Ichijou Retsu/Gavan: Ooba Kenji (also a stuntman in Kikaider,
guest in JAKQ, Battle Kenya in Battle Fever J, and Denziblue
in Denziman. Member of JAC [Japan Action Club, a stuntmen's
association founded by Chiba Shin'ichi].)
Mimi: Kanou Wakiko
Mareen: Nashiro Kyouko
Commander Com: Nishizawa Toshiaki
Voicer: Chiba 'Sonny' Shin'ichi (of Streetfighter fame)
Summary
The Galactic Union Police, based on Bird Star, dispatches Space
Sheriffs to planets throughout the universe. (Cf. the
Guardians of Oa and the Green Lanterns of the DC Universe.)
Many years ago, Voicer was Earth's Space Sheriff. He married
an Earth woman, Ichijouji Tamiko, and had a son, Gavan.
Voicer, intending to make Gavan a Space Sheriff, took him to
Bird. Soon after, Tamiko died of illness. (Seems pretty
heartless to me to leave the wife behind...) Thereafter,
Voicer was betrayed by his fellow Space Sheriff Hunter Killer
(that's his name, 'Hantaa Kiraa') and captured by the space
crime organization Makuu. (Had Voicer known English, he'd
have known better than to hang out with someone named 'Hunter
Killer.') Gavan grew up on Bird, training to be the Space
Sheriff that his now-lost father had intended him to be. Sent
to Earth as its Space Sheriff, Gavan took the name Ichijouji
Retsu. Accompanied by his assistant, Mimi, he fought Makuu
while searching for his father. In the end, he did reunite
with his father, whom Makuu killed by torture, and defeat
Makuu. Rewarded with the position of Captain of the Galactic
Patrol (not the whole Galactic Union Police), Gavan returned
to Bird. Iga Den took his place as Earth's Space
Sheriff--Sharivan. (See section 2 for details.)
Characters and mecha
The Galactic Union Patrol (only those members appearing in Gavan
are listed; see sections 2 and 3 for later additions):
Commander Com
Commander of the GUP.
Mareen
Com's secretary; later Gavan's second partner.
Mimi
Com's daughter who fell for Gavan and became his first partner;
later returned to Bird.
Alan
Space Sheriff of Beeze. Guest in episodes 31 and 32.
Voicer
Earth's Space Sheriff in the past. Gavan's father. Held the
key to the superweapon called the 'Hoshino Super Cannon.'
Died during torture by Makuu.
(All of the above had no Combat Suits.)
Gavan/Ichijouji Retsu
Earth's (then-current) Space Sheriff. Half-human, half-Bird.
His two goals: defeat Makuu and find his father Voicer.
His arsenal (setting the pattern for future Metal Heroes):
Combat Suit
A silver suit of armor (actually a wet suit with plating
varying in metallicity and detail depending on the type of
shot and scene--stunt, close-up, etc.) When Gavan shouts,
'Jouchaku!' (literally, 'steam-wear'; a technical term used to
refer to plating something with metal) particles of Granium
rain from the Dolgiran, fusing around his body to form the
Combat Suit in 0.05 seconds. Weapons include the Laser Z Beam
fired from the Combat Suit's right index and middle fingers
(the name is a remnant of Gavan's original proposed title,
'Uchuu Keiji Z') and the Laser Blade sword, with which he
performs the Gavan Dynamic technique.
Cyberian
Gavan's red motorcycle with vestigial seatless sidecar.
Capable of flight and entry into Makuu Space. (Like all true
outer space vehicles in the Toei universe, it has 'Suzuki'
proudly written on its fuel tank.)
Gavion
Gavan's tank, which splits into an extremely unaerodynamic
flying platform and a base with treads.
Scooper
Gavan's double-drilled minitank, stored in Gavion's bottom half.
Dollgiran
Gavan's flying fortress, capable of space flight and Makuu
Space entry. Consists of the Giran, a silver flying saucer
220 meters in diameter, and the Doll, a blue spacecraft that
transforms into the gigantic mechanical dragon, the Electronic
Star Beast Doll. Gavan pilots the fire-breathing Electronic
Star Beast by standing on its head. (Actually, a
way-out-of-scale, highly unconvicing figure of Gavan stood on
Doll's nose and at the Gavion.)
The Space Crime Organization Makuu (lit. 'Demon Space')
Manipulates evildoings throughout the universe. Makuu's goal
is nothing short of universal domination. It takes over
planets and uses its inhabitants as weapons in the form of
'BEM Monsters,' 'Doublemen,' etc. (Cf. Gozma in Changeman or
Zone in Fiveman.) For this reason, it is also known as the
'Beast Star Empire.' Its headquarters is the Makuu Castle,
located in the dimension of Makuu Space (lit. 'Demon Space
Space'!).
Don Horror (yes, 'Don' as in 'Mafia don')
Head of Makuu.
Hunter Killer ('Hantaa Kiraa'; 1-30, 42)
Makuu's field commander. Once a Space Sheriff, he betrayed
Voicer to Makuu. Tempted by Don Horror, he turned to evil.
Horror Girl
Don Horror's secretary.
BEM Monsters (BEM = 'Bug Eyed Monster'; 1-13)
Bestial monsters of the week.
Name formula: XXX Monster.
1. Shako Monster (partridge)
2. Gamara Monster (toad)
3. Condor Monster
4. Sasori Monster (scorpion)
5. Dokuja Monster (poisonous snake)
6. Oomadako Monster (octopus)
7. Samurai Ari Monster (ant)
8. Kaenzaru Monster (fire monkey)
10. Nijichou Monster (rainbow butterfly)
11. Armadillo Monster
12. Goat Monster
13. Sai Monster (Rhino)
Doublemen and Doublegirls (no, not 'Doublewomen'; 1-13)
Humanoid monsters of the week. Nameless (?)
Double Monsters (14-42)
Crosses between Doublemen and BEM Monsters.
Name formula: XXX Doubler. Most notable of all are Rhino
Doubler (the first Double Monster) and Buffalo Doubler (the
last; see section 2 for details).
14. Sai Doubler (rhino)
15. Shamo Doubler (gamecock)
16. Kama Doubler (scythe)
17. Hyou Doubler (panther)
18. Aogame Doubler (blue turtle)
19. Kyouryuu Doubler (dinosaur)
20. Kera Doubler (cricket)
21. Mitsubachi Doubler (honeybee)
22. Kurage Doubler (jellyfish)
23. Kumo Doubler (spider)
24. Sabre Doubler
25. Goshiki Doubler (five colored?)
26. Gas Doubler
27. Jaaku Doubler (evil)
28. Hakkotsu Doubler (bleached bones)
29. Magic Doubler
30. Keibi Doubler (defense)
31. Saimin Doubler (hypnosis)
32. Totsugeki Doubler (sudden attack)
33. Kaibutsu Doubler (monster)
34. Doctor Doubler
35. Guts Doubler
36. Urami Doubler (malice)
37. Anahori Doubler (hole-digging)
38. Gang Doubler
39. Nottori Doubler (capture)
40. Youkai Doubler (supernatural creature)
41. Jigoku Doubler (hell)
42. Buffalo Doubler
Sondorva (Sandoruba; 30-44)
Don Horror's son; field commande replacing Hunter Killer.
Witch Fang (Kiba; 30-44)
Sondorva's mother and assistant.
Crushers
Grunts in black leather and tights.
Episode titles
1. The Strange Fortress Beneath Tokyo (82.3.5)
2. The Stolen Japanese Archipelago (82.3.12)
3. Oh No! Stop Dr. Kuroboshi's BEM Project (82.3.19)
4. The Demon Helmet That Calls for Death (82.3.26)
5. Mimi Cries; The Poison Cobra Projectile Hits Retsu (82.4.9)
6. Geniuses of the Demonspace School (82.4.16)
7. A Girl Kissed the Petals of the Flower Where a Monster Hides
(82.4.30)
8. Justice or Devil? The Silver-Masked Great Hero (82.5.7)
9. The Beautiful Puppet Spy (82.5.14)
10. Destroy the Human Crusher Corps! (82.5.28)
11. Is Father Alive? The Mysterious SOS Signal (82.6.4)
12. Hurry to the Park! UFO Boys in a Pinch (82.6.11)
13. Retsu in Danger! The Great Reversal (82.6.18)
14. A Parting of Love and Sadness: The Final Attack (82.6.25)
15. Phantom? The Demonspace City (82.7.2)
16. My First Love is the Shining of a Jewel: Farewell Galactic
Express (82.7.9)
17. The Running Time Bomb: Assassin on a Patrol Bike (82.7.16)
18. The Princess Contest: Mess at Dragon Castle (82.7.23)
19. Steamwear at 6 AM! Z Beam Charge Complete (82.7.30)
20. The Mysterious Emergency Hospital! Mankind's Annihilation
Approaches (82.8.6)
21. The Dancing, Prickly Great Pinch: Operation Honey! (82.8.20)
22. Gold Mask and Younger Sister: The Yacht Going to the Sun
(82.9.3)
23. The Beauty's Cries That Cut through the Night! Ghost
Carriage in the Fog (82.9.10)
24. Mimi's Nightmare!? The Howling Cut-up Demonbeast (82.9.17)
25. The Strangely Flickering Flowers in the Water: Young Leaves
in Danger (82.10.1)
26. I Saw the Dolls! True Identity of the Poison Gas Killer
Corps (82.10.8)
27. The Teachers Are Weird! School's Full of Weirdness
(82.10.15)
28. Monica, the Witch Who Wanders the Dark Sea of Space
(82.10.22)
29. Blitzkrieg Magic Battle! Program of Darkness (82.10.29)
30. Don Horror's Son Returns to Demonspace Castle (82.11.5)
31. The Princess Who Became a Doll Listening to the Angel's Song
(82.11.12)
32. The Mysterious Underground Maze Target Is WX1 (82.11.19)
33. A New Monster Is Born: The Boy Who Picked up an Alien
(82.11.26)
34. A Memory of Star Tears: The Child without a Father or Mother
(82.12.3)
35. The Young Lion of Makuu: Sandolva's Opposition (82.12.10)
36. Roadshow of Malice: The Filming Location Is Demonspace
(82.12.17)
37. The Funny Tomboy Princess' Earth Adventure Trip (82.12.24)
38. The Surrounded Transport Corps: Sun Sword of Justice
(83.1.14)
39. When I Returned from School, My House Was a Makuu Base
(83.1.21)
40. Makuu's Great Decisive Battle at the Valley: I'm a Space
Sheriff Too (83.1.28)
41. The New Demonspace City: The Red Hourglass of Life (83.2.4)
42. Retsu! Hurry! Father! (83.2.11)
43. Reunion (83.2.18)
44. The Head of Don Horror (83.2.25)
2. Space Sheriff Sharivan (Uchuu Keiji Shariban; 1983-84)
83.3.4-84.2.24
Network: TV Asahi
51 episodes, color
Fridays, 19:30-20:00
Creator: Hatte Saburou (Toei house pseudonym)
Producers: Yoshikawa Susumu, Orita Itaru, Usui Yuuyake
Directors: Kobayashi Yoshiaki, Tanaka Hideo, Ogasawara Takeshi,
Tsuji Osamu, Konishi Michio
Writers: Uehara Shouzou, Takaku Susumu, Kubota Keiji, Yuyama
Akiyuki
SFX: Yajima Nobuo
Music: Watanabe Michiaki
Cast:
Iga Den/Sharivan: Wataru Hiroshi (also Spielban; see Section 5)
Lily: Furuya Yumiko
Ichijou Retsu/Gavan: Ooba Kenji
Reider: Andou Mitsuo (also Professor Gill in Kikaider and
Professor Monster in Toei's Spider-Man)
Summary
The Igas, whose homeword was destroyed by the space crime
organization Madou, escaped to Inner Iga Island on Earth.
(Yes, 'Iga' as in Iga ninjas.) Iga Den, a descendant of the
Iga refugees, was a forest patroller. One day, he was fatally
injured by the Makuu Double Monster Buffalo Doubler (Gavan
episode 42), the guardian of Makuu's base. Saved by Space
Sheriff Gavan, Den was sent to Bird, where he underwent
surgery, recovered, and trained to become Earth's next Space
Sheriff, taking the place of the promoted Gavan. Over the
course of his duties, he learned of his true Iga heritage and
defended the Iga Crystal (see below) from Madou, teaming up
with Gavan in the series finale.
Characters and mecha
Galactic Union Patrol
Captain Gavan
A frequent guest star. Teamed with Sharivan for the series
finale against Psycho. (This reminded me of the Double Riders
vs. Gelshocker leader episode, some 11 years earlier.)
Lily
Sharivan's assistant.
Sharivan/Iga Den
Earth's second Space Sheriff in recent years. Originally from
Inner Iga Island. Served as forest patroller until fatally
wounded by Makuu's Buffalo Doubler and saved by Gavan. His
arsenal:
Combat Suit
A red suit of 'Solar Metal' armor. When Den shouts, 'Sekisha!'
(lit. 'red discharge'), the Grand Birth (see below) absorbs
solar energy, converts it into Solar Metal particles, and
fires said particles at Den, around whom they fuse to form the
Combat Suit in .001 seconds. The Suit comes with the
Crimebuster handgun and the standard-issue Laser Blade, which
he performs the spectacular Sharivan Crash--one of my all-time
favorite tokusatsu SFX sequences, next to the jouchaku and
sekisha scenes, with the black silhouette of Sharivan swinging
a sword in front of the huge golden disk of the sun.
Motosharian
Sharivan's motorcycle, capable of entry into the Phantom Dream
World.
Sharinger Tank
Sharivan's tank, which splits into a flying upper half and
treaded lower half.
Moguriran (mogura = mole)
Sharivan's drill-headed vehicle.
Grand Birth
Sharivan's flying fortress, which has two modes, the
self-explanatory Battle Mothership and the vaguely humanoid
Battle Birth Formation (with the hugest lap or stomach I've
ever seen).
The Organizers (27, 50)
The anti-Madou resistance, represented by Moore, Keith, and
Rita. Aided Sharivan.
The Descendants of Iga
These include:
The Holy One (34, 47, 51)
The guardian god of the Igas.
Jii/Masked Monster (19)
The aged chief of Inner Iga Island. Has the map to the
whereabouts of the Iga Crystal, which he defends in the
armored guise of the Masked Monster.
The Girls of Inner Iga Island (19, 20, 31, 49-51)
Sailor-suited schoolgirl defenders of the Iga Crystal, a
2,000-year-old artificial sun hidden on the island. Led by
Miyuki.
Bell Billy (36) and Bell Helen (36, 38, 39, 42)
A pair of Iga youths--a older sister and younger brother--whose
parents were slain by Madou while they travelled through
space. General Gyrer of Madou slew Billy.
Iga Warriors (51)
Jack, Henry, Maria, and Kirk. Four descendants of Iga who came
to Earth to help Sharivan at Organizer Rita's request.
(Isn't it funny how the Organizers and the peoples of Iga, all
from outer space, all have Western names?)
The Space Criminal Society Madou (lit. 'Demon Way')
A organization of psychic criminals with its headquarters, the
Phantom Dream Castle, in the Phantom Dream World dimension, a
'white hole' where all the matter sucked up by black holes
ends up. Intends to conquer the universe through chaos
created by its members' psionic abilities.
Demon King Psycho
The immobile (until the finale) ruler of Madou. Fought Gavan
and Sharivan in the series finale in a second body, that of
the cyborg Psychorror, fully mobile and armed with twin swords.
General Gyrer (1-49)
Field commander.
Doctor Polter
Female strategist and Demonster creator.
Reider (rei = spirit; 34-50)
Mystic from the Death Spirit World who intended to take over
Madou for himself.
Miss Demon 1 and 2
Polters' female spies.
Demonsters (Makaijuu)
Monsters of the week, usually with a two-mode gimmick (often
two different faces). Name formula: XXX Beast.
1. Gori Beast (gorilla)
2. Ei Beast (stingray)
3. Kiba Beast (fang)
4. Micon Beast (microcomputer)
5. Sound Beast
6. Yamagami Beast (mountain god)
7. Double Beast
8. Doku Beast (poison)
9. Cash Beast
10. UFO Beast
11. Shouri Beast (victory)
12. Ocarina Beast
13. Boxer Beast
14. Killer Beast
15. Shikake Beast (device)
16. Maboroshi Beast (phantom)
17. Magma Beast
18. Same Beast (shark)
19. Kataribe Beast (storyteller)
21. Utsubo Beast (moray)
22. Shinigami Beast (death god)
23. Nimen Beast (two face)
24. Virus Beast
25. Hard Beast
26. Kaiki Beast (weird)
27. Uragiri Beast (betrayal)
28. Campus Beast
29. Heiki Beast (weapon)
30. Henshin Beast (transformation)
31. Kodai Beast (ancient)
32. Jekyll-Hyde Beast
33. Shunkan Beast (moment)
34. Hyakume Beast (hundred-eyed)
35. Washi Beast (eagle)
36. Bunri Beast (separation)
37. Kuma Beast (bear)
38. Ashura Beast (demon)
39. Doll Beast
40. Yogen Beast (prophecy)
41. Anahori Beast (hole-digging)
42. Mukuro Beast (corpse)
43. Reikai Beast (spirit world)
44. Ankou Beast (anglerfish)
45 .Yuukai Beast (kidnap)
46. Present Beast
47. Kenkyaku Beast (walker)
Fightlers
Grunts in black tights decorated with lightning bolts.
Great King Gamagon (gama = toad)
Toei's Jabba the Hutt ripoff: a huge bodiless toad head from
the future. Not a Madou member but a foe of Sharivan
nonetheless.
Episode titles
1. Phantom Dream (83.3.4)
2. Demonworld Newtown (83.3.11)
3. A Promise with Kumiko (83.3.18)
4. Wanted: Microcomputer (83.3.25)
5. Youko of the Harbor Does Not Forget the Melody of Love
(83.4.1)
6. The Little Life Running through the Forest Battlefield
(83.4.8)
7. Who Is the Me Floating in the Mirror? (83.4.15)
8. The Mud River Lives Again: Comeback Salmon (83.4.22)
9. Surprise House Is at Phantom Dream Castle No. 0 (83.4.29)
10. Phantom Dream Castle--Chase the Shadow of the Tokyo Express
(83.5.6)
11. The Strongest Evil Fighter from the Dark Nebula (83.5.13)
12. The Alien's Smile: Operation My Friend (83.5.20)
13. Strength Is Love: The Heroes' Journey (83.5.27)
14. The String of Multimillionaires Plagued by Dream Demons
(83.6.3)
15. The Device Island of the Sea's Rumbling (83.6.10)
16. The Dangerous Hit Song Sung by the Beauty (83.6.17)
17. The Strange Extradimensional Journey of the New
Double-Decker Bus (83.6.24)
18. Summer! Sea! The Herds of Meteo Attacking the Iga
Peninsula (83.7.1)
19. The Miraculous Girl Standing Alone at Demon Edge Cape
(83.7.8)
20. The Rainbow Crystal Island That Calls Wild Waves (83.7.15)
21. Fangs of the Secret Room: Lily Likes Mysteries (83.7.22)
22. The Temptation to Heaven That Attacks a Tennis Player
(83.7.29)
23. Fear of the Age of Copies: Lookalikes Assemble (83.8.5)
24. The Plague of Laziness Brought by a Hurricane of Insects
(83.8.19)
25. Tears Even in an Ogre's Eye--Tears of an Angel--Come Save
Papa (83.8.26)
26. Trap of Hatred: The Great Makeup War (83.9.2)
27. The Sky of Betrayal: Escapee from the Prison of Darkness
(83.9.9)
28. The Campus Has a Violent Storm of Windspeed 80 m (83.9.16)
29. Who Is the Enemy? The Hot-Blooded Boy Eyeing the Plains
(83.9.23)
30. The Abandoned Children: Metamorphosing Mother (83.9.30)
31. Miyuki Is Now...? The Wandering Phantom Crystal (83.10.7)
32. The Phantom Dream Device Orange and the Lullaby! (83.10.14)
33. Time Trip! Inside the Phantom Dream Castle, Strange Flowers
Are Blooming (83.10.21)
34. All Hair-Raising Ghosts Are Guides to the Phantom Dream
World (83.10.28)
35. If You Fall, Stand, Den! Love Is the Glow of Life (83.11.4)
36. In the Rough Seas of Space Rises the Z Flag of the Iga
Warriors' Band (83.11.11)
37. Bear-Hunting Uncle Saw the Strange Poison Flowers (83.11.18)
38. Mad Whispers Coup d'Etat: Phantom Dream Castle of the Dark
Clouds (83.11.25)
39. The Doll Knows the Wound of the Iga Warrior (83.12.2)
40. The Fiery Car Chase: The Prophet Who Cut the Ties of Love
(83.12.9)
41. Phoenix! Fly Back to the Phantom Dream Castle That Erupts
in Reverse (83.12.16)
42. The Red Youth of the Woman Warrior Who Runs across the
Battlefield (83.12.23)
43. A Mother and Child's Tears of Love Flow on the Road of
Heaven (83.12.30)
44. The Midnight Cinderella Full of the Scent of Roses (84.1.6)
45. The Audition Trap: The Big Child Star (84.1.13)
46. The Birthday Promise: The Airplane Cloud Drawing Dreams in
the Sky (84.1.20)
47. The Brother and Sister Wishing for Happiness: The
Fireworks-Falling Swords of Justice and Evil
48. Mimi
49. Gamagon
50. The Sea Monster
51. Red Discharge/Steamwear
3. Space Sheriff Shaider (Uchuu Keiji Shaidaa)
84.3.2-85.3.1
Network: TV Asahi
48 episodes, color
Fridays, 19:30-20:00
Creator: Hatte Saburou (Toei house pseudonym)
Producers: Yoshikawa Susumu, Orita Itaru, Usui Yuuyake
Directors: Sawai Shin'ichirou, Kobayashi Yoshiaki, Tanaka Hideo,
Ogasawara Takeshi, Tsuji Osamu, Konishi Michio, Yamada Michio
Writer: Uehara Shouzou
SFX: Yajima Nobuo
Music: Watanabe Michiaki
Cast:
Sawamura Dai/Shaider: Tsuburaya Hiroshi (grandson of the late,
lamented special effects genius Tsuburaya Eiji of Ultraman
fame and son of Tsuburaya Hajime. Previously a mainstream TV
drama actor and not a stuntman, unlike Daiba Kenji and Wataru
Hiroshi.)
Annie: Morinaga Naomi (also Helen in Spielban)
Poe: Yoshida Atsushi (who auditioned to be Shaider)
Hessler: Kubo Kazuhiko
(This is one of the sources for footage in this season's VR
Troopers. Ryan Steele's current VR Trooper mode is Shaider.
See sections 5 and 6 for JB, Kaitlin, and Ryan's old mode.)
Summary
In college, Sawamura Dai deciphered the figures on the Nazca
Plain. Impressed, the Galactic Union Police recruited the
archaeologist and trained him to be Earth's third Space
Sheriff in recent years. Named after Shaider, the ancient
hero who destroyed the Mu Empire and defeated Fuuma 12,000
years ago, he teamed with Annie to stop Fuuma today. He did
so single-handedly; the expected crossover with Gavan and
Sharivan never occurred until a special that aired 85.3.8.
Characters and Mecha
Galactic Union Police
Annie
Shaider's cowgirlish partner, whose homeworld of Mount was
annihilated by Fuuma. Played by a JAC stuntwoman, she engaged
in much more action than her non-stuntwoman predecessors, who
largely stayed aboard mecha and away from the monsters of the
week. Some view Morinaga Naomi as the Shiomi Etsuko ('Sue
Shiomi' in 'Sonny Chiba' movies) of the eighties. She gained
quite a following when Shaider was on Japanese TV, with the
tokusatsu fan magazine Uchusen running 'side stories'
spotlighting Annie. Previous Metal Hero series had stuntMAN
main characters; this series was usual in that it had a
stuntWOMAN main character, but no stuntman (see below).
Shaider/Sawamura Dai
Archaelogist-turned-Space Sheriff. Named after the ancient
hero Shaider, he was fated to repeat his predecessor's destiny
by saving Earth from Fuuma. His arsenal:
Combat Suit
A blue and silver suit of Granium Alpha armor. When Dai
shouts, 'Shouketsu!' (lit. 'fry-bind'), beams of Plasma Blue
Energy shower from the Babylos to form the Suit around his
body in 1 millisecond. The Suit comes with the Video Beam Gun
and the standard issue Laser Blade, with which he performs the
Shaider Blue Flash technique.
Blue Hawk (VRT: VR Nitricycle)
Shaider's blue and white motorcycle with wings in the rear that
fold open. Capable of flight and entry into the Strange World
dimension.
Shaian (VRT: VR Combat Module)
Shaider's tank, which splits into the flying Skyshaian fighter
plane and the Battle Shaian tank, with retractable drill
(guess the Scooper and Moguriran toys didn't sell, so Bandai
saw no point in designing another separate drill vehicle).
Babylos (Vavilos?; Babirosu; VRT: ?)
Shaider's blue and white flying fortress. Has three modes:
Super Dimensional Battle Mothership (self-explanatory), Battle
Formation (humanoid), and Shooting Formation (gun, 'held' by a
gigantic hologram of Shaider; VRT: Shoulder Cannon).
Strange World Fuuma (lit. 'wind demon')
A religion based in the Strange Palace (Grimlord's base) in the
Strange World dimension revering Kubilai as its god which
intends to conquer the universe through psychological attacks.
Attempted to take over Earth 12,000 years ago, only to be
stopped by the Shaider of legend; destroyed today by the
modern Shaider.
Great Emperor Kubilai (a pun on kubi 'head' and Kublai Khan;
VRT: Oraclon)
Ruler of Fuuma. A giant golden head with three red eyes
embedded in the wall of the Fuuma Palace. Later revelaed to
have two bodies: a natural one (Hydrabot in VR Troopers'
'Grimlord's Dark Secret Part Two'; Shaider 47) with snakelike
limbs that fought the Shaider of legend 12,000 years ago and a
mechanical one with which he fought the Shaider of today
(Oraclon in VRT 'Into Oraclon's Web'; Shaider 48).
God Officer Poe (VRT: Despera)
Kubilai's transvestite grandson in white who presides over the
Strange Beast birth and Strange Dimension Generation
ceremonies. (Cf. Sailor Moon for another case of
male-as-female in the US version.) Drinking a elixir made
somehow from young girls every 500 years, he lived 15,000
years. Unwilling to have anyone be more beautiful than he,
his true face is mummified.
Commander Hessler (VRT: Doommaster)
Black-garbed field commander covered with red vines. Older
brother of Himley (Arachnobot? in VR Troopers), who tried to
take over his position.
Girls' Army (VRT: Vixens)
Five kunoichi (female ninja) spies.
Strange Beasts (Fushigijuu)
Psychedelic, deceptively comical-looking creatures.
Name formula: two syllables, then those two syllable repeated
(see below for all the names)
List of Strange Beasts by episode
(Can anyone familiar with both Shaider and VR Troopers help me
match VR Troopers names with these? Descriptions are
extremely hard to give, since many do not have any obvious
motifs.)
1. Baribari
2. Petopeto
3. Girugiru
4. Meromero
5. Mujimuji
6. Gokugoku
7. Barabara
8. Kerokero
9. Tamtam
10. Pasupasu
11. Getogeto
12. Roborobo
13. Kotokoto
14. Guriguri
15. Gamegame
16. Bokeboke (VRT: Charmidor)
17. Girigiri
18. Muumuu
19. Magumagu
20. Shigishigi
21. Surisuri
22. Umiumi
23. Gasgas
24. Lovelove
25. Saisai
26. Kamikami
27. Deathdeath
29. Itoito
30. Buyobuyo
31. Fumafuma
32. Karikari
33. Merimeri
34. Kagekage
35. Daridari
36. Konkon
37. Guchiguchi
38. Moviemovie
39. Satasata
40. Terroterro
41. Pearpear
42. Hebihebi
43. Tsutatsuta
Films: Omega (first; not a Strange Beast but an alien gunman
with shoulder cannons), Muchimuchi (second)
Miraclers (second-generation Skugs)
Grunts with big round eyes and fanged mouths.
Episode titles:
1. The Strange World (84.3.2)
2. Dance, Petopeto! (84.3.9)
3. Annie Doesn't Respond (84.3.16)
4. The Children Who Became Dos (84.3.23)
5. Suddenly! Lazybones (84.3.30)
6. The Counterattack of Strange World Cooking (84.4.13)
7. Have You Seen the Girls' Hallucinations (84.4.20)
8. Bad Girl from the Stars (84.4.27)
9. I Really Hate the Blue Boys' Team (84.5.4)
10. House of Twilight (84.5.11)
11. Leave It to Annie (84.5.18)
12. The True Identity of Perfect-Scoring Genta? (84.5.25)
13. The Gold Medal Device Man (84.6.1)
14. Mutant of Love (84.6.8)
15. The Marine Blue of the Seashore (84.6.15)
16. The Surprised Alien Life Form (84.6.22)
17. The Mysterious Writing of the Galactic Police (84.6.29)
18. Who Calls for Mysteries: The Pacific Ocean (84.7.6)
19. Annie in Danger (84.7.13)
20. The Strange Song (84.7.20)
21. I Hate Them! The Little Beasts' Family (84.7.27)
22. The Oddity of the Sea Called by the Mermaid (84.8.3)
23. The Great Escape with Wounds All Over (84.8.10)
24. The Beautiful Mask of Poe (84.8.31)
25. Esper Queen (84.9.7)
26. Great Crash into the Demonworld Zone (84.9.14)
27. Death Match at Demon Island (84.9.21)
28. Backstabbing Brothers of the Demon Palace (84.9.28)
29. The Woman Cop of a Hundred Faces (84.10.12)
30. The Message of Life Slicing the Sky (84.10.19)
31. The Big Bargain of Canned Wild Monsters (84.10.26)
32. The Melody of Yours and Mine (84.11.2)
33. The Walking Gut-Talk Master (84.11.9)
34. Kubilai's Secret (84.11.16)
35. The Golden Arrow That Shoots Mysteries (84.11.23)
36. It's the Age of Dream Computer Madness (84.11.30)
37. The Roaring Beam Gun (84.12.7)
38. The Demon Girl Cinderella (84.12.14)
39. The Choir of the Dancing Masks (84.12.21)
40. Vavilos SOS (84.12.28)
41. Direct Attack on the Woman Equestrian (85.1.11)
42. The Miracle of Grade 6, Class 0 (85.1.18)
43. Our Fuuma (85.1.25)
44. The Great Invasion Blowing Wildly in (85.2.1)
45. The Fire-Breathing Golden Idol (85.2.8)
46. Phantom Showtime (85.2.15)
47. The Darkness of 12,000 Years (85.2.22)
48. Justice, Friendship, and Love (85.3.1)
Films:
Space Sheriff Shaider (84.7.14)
Chase the Strange Kidnappers! (84.12.22)
TV special:
Space Sheriff Special: Three Space Sheriffs--Gavan, Sharivan,
and Shaider Assemble! (85.3.8)
(c) 1995 Marc H. Miyake miyake@Hawaii.Edu
This copyright applies only to this Manual and not to the Metal
Heroes and/or any other properties of Toei, TV Asahi, or Asahi
Tsushinsha (ASATSU).
This document may be distributed in part or in whole as long as
this copyright notice is preserved.
---------------------
The Metal Hero Manual, Version 1.2, Part 2: Alien Metal Heroes
(95.11/95.15:13)
(c) 1995 Marc H. Miyake miyake@Hawaii.Edu
This copyright applies only to this Manual and not to the Metal
Heroes and/or any other properties of Toei, TV Asahi, or Asahi
Tsushinsha (ASATSU).
This document may be distributed in part or in whole as long as
this copyright notice is preserved.
What's new in this edition:
Credits
Juspion monster names
Interlude, or why the Space Sheriffs were no more
In an interview in Tokuma Shoten's Town Mook Perfect Manual 3:
Kyojuu Tokusou Juspion, Toei producer Yoshikawa Susumu stated
that the average ratings for the Space Sheriffs were as
follows:
Gavan (15%), Sharivan (13%), Shaider (12.5%)
To face the challenge of downward ratings, for its fourth entry
in the Metal Hero series, Toei abandoned the Space Sheriff
series and turned to a revival of the kaijuu (giant monster)
format in Youjuu Tokusou Deniiro ('Strange Beast Special
Investigation DeNiro), which emerged as Juspion. (Kamen Rider
J fans, note: the evil organization in DeNiro was to be 'Fog.')
4. Megabeast Special Investigation Juspion (Kyojuu Tokusou
Jasupion; 1985-86)
85.3.15-86.3.24
Network: TV Asahi
46 episodes, color
Fridays, 19:30-20:00 (1-34), Mondays, 19:00-19:30 (35-46)
Creator: Hatte Saburou
Producers: Yoshikawa Susumu, Orita Itaru, Usui Yuuyake
Directors: Ogasawara Takeshi, Kobayashi Yoshiaki, Konishi
Michio, Tsuji Osamu
Writers: Uehara Shouzou, Yamazaki Haruya, others
SFX: Yajima Nobuo
Music: Watanabe Michio
Cast:
Juspion: Kurozaki Hikaru (JAC stuntman; easily recognizable in
early episodes with a hideous Afro)
Anri: Tsukada Kiyomi
Boomerang: Wataru Hiroshi (a.k.a. Sharivan, Spielban)
Ejin: Nakatani Noboru
Madgalant: Haruta Jun'ichi (JAC stuntman; Dynablack in Dynaman)
Summary
The space hermit Ejin discovered a shocking prophecy in the
Galactic Bible: When the god Satangorth of the Dark Universe
awakens, the galaxy, and even the universe, will cease to
exist. When Satangorth appeared, Juspion set off under orders
from his mentor Ejin to stop him and his Megabeasts with the
android woman Anri and the giant robot Daileon.
Characters and mecha
Juspion
Juspion = 'justice champion.' A wild child brought up by Ejin
after losing his parents during a space journey. Can put on a
silver Metaltech Suit in 0.03 seconds by sparking energy
between his palms. Armed with the Plasma Blazer Sword with
which he performs the Cosmic Harlee technique and Beam Scanner
Gun. (Originally was going to pose as Earth stuntman Kenjou
Yutaka.)
Ironwolf
Juspion's silver motorcycle, a 'Super Planet Machine' built by
Suzuki.
Garbin
Juspion's silver tank, which splits into the Garbin Tank with
twin drills and the Garbin Jet.
Daileon
Juspion's silver flying fortress and greatest weapon. Normally
in self-explanatory Super Planet Battle Mothership mode, it
can transform into a 60-meter-tall 'Battle Giant' robot in 5.8
seconds and defeat Megabeasts with the Cosmic Crash
technique's double punches.
Anri
A female android built by Ejin to serve as Juspion's assistant.
Boomerang
After his older brother, an Interpol investigator, was killed
by Satangorth's forces, this medical student vowed revenge and
became a 'Federal Nations sheriff' [sic], fighting Satangorth
with his twin boomerangs. Real name unknown.
Mieya
A creature from the jungles of Beezee who saved Juspion from a
carnivorous plant. Lost his mother during a battle with
Satangorth's forces. Joins the crew of the Daileon. (No,
Ferbus in Masked Rider wasn't the only useless cute creature
in tokusatsu; the Japanese too have made this mistake.)
Ejin
The descendant of prophets who defended the Galaxy Bible for
tens of millennia. Raised Juspion, the survivor of a space
shiprwreck and set him off to defeat Satangorth.
The Nambara Family (15-)
Receiving a revelation from God, cameraman Nambara Ken'ichirou,
his daughter Kanoko and his son Kenta became closely linked
with Juspion when Ken'ichirou took a photo of the Golden Bird.
Kanoko, along with four other children, Daisaku, Hiroshi,
Mika, and Kumiko, were chosen by God to give birth (!) to the
Golden Bird from their palms.
The Golden Bird
Guardian god of the galaxy. A manifestation of the energies of
righteousness. (Or a very unconvincing matte painting or
bluescrened toy bird.) Became the gigantic golden sword with
which Juspion, piloting the Daileon, defeated Satangorth with
a giant-scale Cosmic Harlee.
Tarzan of the Galaxy
The baby referred to in a prophecy in the Galaxy Bible. Landed
on Earth, sleeping in a life-preserving capsule, as the sole
survivor of a spaceship attacked by pirates. Juspion saw
himself in the baby and named it the 'Tarzan of the Galaxy.'
The Megabeast Empire
Satangorth
A giant bat-winged creature normally enveloped in black armor.
The Great Demon God of Darkness referred to in the Galaxy
Bible. A super lifeform born from negative energy spewed out
from a black hole. Defeated by the Golden Bird, the avatar of
righteousness.
Madgalant
Satangorth's son, a Metal Villain wearing a suit of black
armor. (Cf. Hellvira of Spielban, Topgunder/Darkheart of
Metalder/VRT, or Black Beet in Beetle Fighter.) Capable of
fighting Juspion with his sword or with his black VTOL
six-legged insectoid walker/plane, the Juldbooma, reminiscent
of the Beetle Fighter mecha ten years later. Can take human
form.
The Aliens
Mercenaries (?) of various unnamed species who assist
Madgalant. Reminiscent of the aliens in Blue SWAT.
Gilza (29-35)
Alien witch who brought Madgalant back to life when he was
killed by Juspion.
Gilmarza (39-)
Gilza's elder sister. A witch known as the 'Spectre Queen of
the Dark Galaxy.'
The Four Deva Kings
Hirelings of Madgalant.
Zampa (13-18)
Top bodyguard in the galaxy.
Ikki (13-15)
Android who once threatened Juspion's parents.
Guillauie (Gyooru; 13-44)
Female spy and master of disguise.
Brima (13-44)
Prophet with a crystal ball.
The Five Space Ninjas
Wear suits of black armor differing only in the color of their
forehead plates. Each is named after the element he
represents.
Ka (Fire; red; 39-43)
Sui (Water; blue; 39, 40)
Moku (Wood; green; 39-42)
Dou (Earth; long vowel irregular; white; 39)
Fuu (Wind; yellow; 39-43)
Other Madgalant hirelings of lesser note include the Amazones
(10), the Gazami Brothers (25, 26), and the Cutey Girls (Cutey
Ace, Cutey Heart, Cutey Queen; 27) who can merge into the
Three- Faced Beast Warrior.
Megabeasts
Giant monsters of either Earth or alien origin, averaging 60
meters in height.
1. Marigos
1. Hanedar
2. Tetsugos
3. Namageras
4. Gaios
5. Giga
6. Gelgon
7. Iwagoreela
8. Onideviler
9. Kidamar
10. Pirazahl
11. Gamagoras
13. Kabegonta
14. Umiking
15. Portsanki
17. Headdrimmer
19. Umiblar
20. Hakabarn
21. Magneder
22. Kumorda
23. Shishiorn
24. Moke
25. Donges
26. Borger
27. Sodomon
28. Aiger
29. Gasler
30. Baloom
31. Deathchiras
33. Majin
34. Phordon
36. Jimushi
37. Ebizohl
38. Aquarocky
40. Diagoras
41. Deathdran
44. Badelges
The average rating for Juspion was 11.8%, 0.7% less than
Shaider, the lowest rated of the Space Sheriffs. Clearly, the
Metal Hero- kaijuu mix wasn't working out (despite the excuses
of producer Yoshikawa, who blames video games). The next
entry in the Metal Hero series eliminated the kaijuu and
introduced an entirely new element to bring in higher
ratings...
5. Dimensional Warrior Spielban (Spielvan; Jikuu Senshi
Supiruban)
86.4.7-87.3.9
Network: TV Asahi
44 episodes, color
Mondays, 19:00-19:30
Creator: Hatte Saburou
Producers: Yoshikawa Susumu, Orita Itaru, Usui Yuuyake
Directors: Ogasawara Takeshi, Kobayashi Yoshiaki, Konishi
Michio, Tsuji Osamu
Writers: Uehara Shouzou, Kobayashi Yoshiaki, Aikawa Noburu,
Takizawa Kazuho
SFX: Yajima Nobuo
Music: Watanabe Michio
Cast:
Jou Yousuke/Spielban: Wataru Hiroshi (a.k.a. Sharivan, Boomerang)
Diana/Diana Lady: Sumikawa Makoto (a JAC stuntwoman; now
Kouyamaki Jun; played Shiratori Reiko, Black RX's girlfriend)
Helen/Hellvira/Helen Lady: Morinaga Naomi (also Annie in Shaider)
Ben/Doctor Bio: Mizuki Ichirou (sings the theme song and
innumerable other tokusatsu songs)
Pandora: Soga Machiko (yes, HER, Bandora in Zyuranger and Queen
Hedrian in Denziman and Sunvulcan)
Emperor Guillotine: Mickey Curtis (a fortysomething? half? who
looks much younger than he really is)
The basis for the JB and Kaitlin footage in VR Troopers.
Summary
The Wahrer Empire, always in search of water to sustain the
life of its deity Wahrer, destroyed the planet Clin. Two Clin
children, Spielban and Diana, escaped to Earth aboard the
Super Dimensional Battle Mothership Gran Nazca. Having grown
up during the long journey, the two don High Tech Crystal
Suits as Spielban and Diana Lady to defeat the Wahrers, who
have come to Earth in search of more water. Spielban must
avenge his dead mother Anna and homeworld and find his missing
father Ben and older sister Helen, captives of Wahrer. The
Wahrer Empire transformed Ben and Helen into Doctor Bio and
Hellvira. Later in the series, Hellvira switched sides to
become Helen once again, donning a High Tech Crystal Suit to
become Helen Lady. In the end, the deity Wahrer turned out to
be a sham; 'he' had been 'his' shaman Queen Pandora all along.
Ben reverted to normal, but was killed by Pandora. Spielban
slew Pandora. The explosion of the Wahrer castle Gamedeath
caused a timeslip. Spielban, Helen, and Diana awoke on the
surface planet Clin, which existed once again. Having defeated
the Wahrer Empire in the past (our present), planet Clin
existed once again in the future. Clin was actually Earth
10,000 years in the future. Now that the Wahrer Empire no
longer existed, Spielban, Helen, and Diana were able to
reunite with their parents, alive again on the restored world
of Clin. (No, this ending didn't make sense to me or the
Japanese fans either. I find it hard to believe that
live-action master scribe Uehara Shouzou, whose work consists
of the best Tsuburaya and Toei episodes of the 60s through
80s, wrote this.)
Characters and mecha
Spielban/Jou Yousuke
20. Took the name Jou Yousuke on Earth. Rides in a Mitsubishi
4x4, patrolling for Wahrer activity. Communicates with Diana
via the Super Crystal Ceiver headset. His arsenal:
High Tech Crystal Suit (worn by JB in VR Troopers)
When Spielban shouts, 'Kesshou!' (Crystalize!), the Gran Nazca
showers Clin Metal Super Corpuscles upon him, which
crystallize to form the silver and red Suit around his body in
10 microseconds. The Suit comes with the self-explanatory
Twin Blade, with which he performs the Arc Impulse technique,
either on or off the Hovarian. He also has the Laser Sniper
handgun, the Search Analyzer built into his visor, and the
Hyperslip ability, which teleports him and any opponents in
the vicinity to locations where less property and fewer people
will be endangered ('Vortex Command' in VR Troopers). He can
recharge by touching Diana Lady's hand.
Hovarian
Spielban's red and white motorcycle, a 'Super Dimensional
Machine' that in real life used to be a Suzuki 'future
motorcycle' for show. Has wings with rotors which bend
outwards for hovering.
Gaios
Spielban's white and black tank. Its top left side breaks off
to form the X-winged Jet Gaios, while the remainder, the Drill
Gaios, splits open to reveal a drill. Often in combat against
the Skulldon, General Deathzero's (General Ivar's in VR
Troopers) tank.
Gran Nazca (VR Skybase)
Spielban and Diana's flying fortress and home for most of their
lives. Transforms into the humanoid Command Formation (VR
Troopertron) or the Cannon Formation (a gigantic gun 'fired'
by an enormous hologram of Spielban).
Diana
Spielban's partner. The first female Metal Hero, in her High
Tech Crystal Suit guise as Diana Lady (VR Troopers' Kaitlin
I). Like Spielban, must shout 'Kesshou!' to don the Suit.
Armed with the Lady Sniper. Communicates with Spielban via
the Super Crystal Phone.
Helen
Spielban's older sister. Captured by the Wahrer Empire, she
lost her memory and served it as Hellvira in red armor (Red
Python in VR Troopers). Later, she broke free of the Wahrer
Empire and gained the ability to 'kesshou' into Helen Lady (VR
Troopers' Kaitlin II) after receiving training from Teacher.
(Although VR Troopers has Kaitlin splitting into two, Diana
and Helen are entirely separate characters in Spielban who
just happen to wear the same model of High Tech Crystal Suit.
I wish that they wore slightly different suits--a minor
difference in paint job might have been enough--but oh
well...) Armed with the Helen Cutter double scythe, which is
all that differentiates her from the gun-toting Diana Lady.
Doctor Ben
Spielban and Helen's father. Because of his great skills in
biology, was captured with Helen 14 years ago by the Wahrer
Empire. Served Wahrer as Doctor Bio before reverting to
normal and dying, only to live again in the alternate future
timeline in which the Wahrer Empire never existed.
Anna (a brunette gaijin)
Spielban and Helen's mother. Chose Spielban and Diana to
survive by escaping in the Gran Nazca shortly before the
destruction of the Clin mothership. Died, but was restored to
life in the alternate future timeline in which the Wahrer
Empire never existed.
Marin (a blonde gaijin)
Diana's mother. Died when the Clin detonated their own
mothership, but restored to life in the alternate future
timeline in which the Wahrer Empire never existed.
Space Swordsman Teacher (14, 33)
A hologram generated by the Gran Nazca's computers to train
Spielban in swordsmanship.
Koyama Daigorou
Owner of the invention shop 'Edison.' Claims to be a genius.
Comes up with various gadgets that don't quite work out.
Koyama Miwa
19. Daigorou's younger sister. Helps out at Edison, but is
sick of his inventions that don't sell.
The Wahrer Empire
An empire that searches for water throughout the universe to
sustain the life of its (nonexistent) deity, Wahrer.
Queen Pandora
Supposedly receiving orders from the deity Wahrer, she in turn
orders the heads of her three armies. Actually, she and
Wahrer are one and the same. Has not yet appeared on VR
Troopers, probably to avoid confusion with Rita. In the
finale (43, 44) transformed into the Pandora Battle Machine
(Wo)man, the starfish-like Pandora Lifeform, and the Pandora
Life Machine (Wo)man, a composite of the previous two
incarnations. With so many incarnations, Spielban didn't find
her easy to defeat. Never appeared in VR Troopers; if she
did, she'd be mixed up with Rita.
Emperor Guillotine (24-)
Descendant of Wahrer (and logically Pandora). Summoned from
the 23th century to help Pandora in the present. Resembles a
refugee from Hokuto no Ken or Mad Max with his studded black
leather outfit. Thinks of his subordinates as disposable, but
is loyal to his Queen. Fell into a dimensional rift and
returned as a ghost, only to be defeated again by Spielban.
Has never appeared on VR Troopers.
General Deathzero (VR Troopers' General Ivar)
Leader of Wahrer's Mechanical Army. Wears black armor. An
android programmed with a knowledge of all tactics. Can
transform into the Deathzero Torpedo, a black-headed missile
that launched from a catapult (24, 42).
Skulldon
General Deathzero's black tank. Splits into the Skulldon Jet
(top half) and the Skulldon Cutter (bottom half), a tank armed
with a buzzsaw. Accompanied by numerous lesser black tanks
(without names?).
Battle Machine Men
General Deathzero's monsters of the week. I need help with the
VR Troopers name equivalents. I have listed them below by the
episode in which they first appeared:
1. Mechashoulder
2. Mechabander
3. Mechajouka
4. Mechaputer
7. Mechanoochira
8. Mechamajin
10. Mecharoboter
11. Mechagunman
12. Mechafreezer
14. Drillhander
16. Bosskong
17. Blocker (VRT: Irradiator)
18. Dorbeller
20. Sharinder
22. Sartan
23. Godolar
25. Puncher (first of the New Battle Machine Men)
26. Medor
27. Karmillar
28. Disk
29. Offside
30. Kuruman
31. Antom
32. Tsutaara
33. Biker
34. Yumepakkun
35. Shishidon
36. Walther
38. Blender
39. Vacuumer
39. Youki Battle Machine Man (as the name suggests, it's
Youki's, not Deathzero's)
40. Kumason
41. Moveman
42. Blizzer
43. Pandora Battle Machine (Wo)man (not Deathzero's either)
Doctor Bio (VR Troopers' General Icebot)
Formerly Spielban's father Doctor Ben. Wears white armor.
Leader of Wahrer's Bio Army. Creates Biohumans and Battle
Lifeforms with Lifeform Modification Surgery. At one point
ended up as a monster, Bioroid Bio.
Hellvira (VR Troopers' Red Python)
Formerly Spielban's sister Helen. Obeys Wahrer's commands.
Wears red armor. Can break her body down into atoms to pass
through walls. Armed with a dagger that fires light waves.
Later cured, becoming Helen Lady.
Bio Lifeforms
Doctor Bio's monsters of the every-once-in-a-long-while. I
need the VR Troopers equivalents.
6. Guja (appears in Quest for Power Part 1)
13. Wataja
15. Umija (VRT: Octobot)
Ricki (1-36)
Leader of Wahrer's all-female Spy Army. Assisted by Shadow and
Gasher (both 1-25). Never appeared in VR Troopers.
Youki (35-39; VRT: ?)
A new Wahrer officer, created from evil hearts of men. Pale,
long haired, and horned. Gathered key members of society and
brainwashed them into joining his secret society, 'Mumumu.'
Can appear and disappear at will. The latest in that line of
gender-bending villains represented by Berg Katze and Poe of
Shaider. Rebelled against Wahrer by reating the Youki Battle
Machine Man out of scrap aboard Gamedeath. Sucked up along
with his creation by the New Battle Machine Man Vacuumer. Has
appeared in VR Troopers as a woman (!).
Kinclons (pun on kin 'gold' and 'clone'; VR Troopers' original
Skugs)
Wahrer's mass-produced Battle Machine Soldiers, garbed in black
tights with gold stripes, smiling gold masks with red eye
slits, and black and gold capes. (Skugs with thick gold
stripes are from American-made footage; those with thin
stripes are from Spielban.)
Gamedeath (a pun on kame 'tortoise' and 'death')
The Wahrer Empire's mobile fortress. Resembles a giant winged
tortoise of silver metal. Carries Skulljaws battleships,
silver craft that resemble giant sharks. Has never appeared
on VR Troopers.
(c) 1995 Marc H. Miyake miyake@Hawaii.Edu
This copyright applies only to this Manual and not to the Metal
Heroes and/or any other properties of Toei, TV Asahi, or Asahi
Tsushinsha (ASATSU).
This document may be distributed in part or in whole as long as
this copyright notice is preserved.
---------------------
The Metal Hero Manual, Version 1.0, Part 3: Robot Metal Heroes
(95.11.5.1:45/12.19.16:06)
(c) 1995 Marc H. Miyake miyake@Hawaii.Edu
This copyright applies only to this Manual and not to the Metal
Heroes and/or any other properties of Toei, TV Asahi, or Asahi
Tsushinsha (ASATSU).
This document may be distributed in part or in whole as long as
this copyright notice is preserved.
What's new in this edition:
Credits
Jiban monster names and film references
Thanks to Robert Rosenberg for more VRT equivalents.
6. Super Man Machine Metalder (Choujinki Metarudaa)
87.3.16-88.1.17
Network: TV Asahi
39 episodes, color
Mondays, 19:00-19:30 (1-24), Sundays, 9:30-10:00 (25-39)
Creator: Hatte Saburou
Producers: Yoshikawa Susumu, Orita Itaru, Higasa Atsushi, Oseki
Akira, Usui Yuuyake
Directors: Ogasawara Takeshi, Tomita Yoshiharu, Orita Itaru,
Itou Yasuhiro, Konishi Michio, Mitsumura Tetsuji, others
Writers: Takaku Susumu, Yamazaki Haruya, Kakefuda Akihiro, Fujii
Kunio, Uehara Shouzou, Ougisawa Nobuo, Nakahara Akira, others
SFX: Yajima Nobuo
Music: Yokoyama Seiji
Cast:
Tsurugi Ryuusei/Metalder/Koga Tatsuo: Senoo Akira
Ougi Mai: Aota Hiroko
Kita Hakkou: Kawai Hiroshi (Changeman's Changegriffin)
Kirihara Gouzou/Godneros: Toudou Shinji (also Spider-Man and
General Hedler in Denziman)
The basis for the first season of Ryan footage in VR Troopers.
Toei's first robot hero series since Kyoudain (1976-77), the
failed replacement show for Kamen Rider Stronger.
The similarities with Toei's first robot hero series, Man-Made
Human Kikaider (Jinzou Ningen Kikaidaa) are numerous:
The name of the main character is a reference to machines plus
'der.' (Kikaider is literally 'Machineder,' which I had
expected Metalder to be titled when it was first announced
early in 1987.)
He is an android with a two-tone color scheme, blue on the left,
red on the right. He has a humanoid mode (Tsurugi
Ryuusei/Jirou) and is the 'son' of its creator. He drives a
motorcycle with a sidecar (Sidephantom/Sidemachine). He has
no weapons other than hands and feet. His rival and later
ally is garbed in black (Topgunder/Hakaider).
A closer look at the story will reveal many differences...
Summary
In 1945, Dr. Koga Ryuuichirou designed Metalder as a secret
weapon for the Japanese Imperial Army for use in the Pacific
War. (cf. Iron Man No. 28), modelling it after his late son,
kamikaze pilot Imperial Navy Second Sublieutenant Koga Tatsuo.
A pacificist, Dr. Koga put Metalder to sleep in the Silver
Carcass base, alongside Springer, the Sidephantom, and the
Metalcharger, They awoke 42 years later, when Dr. Koga put
them to use against the Neros Empire, founded by Dr. Koga's
former assistant, Japanese Imperial Army Major Muraki, now
known either as Kirihara Gouzou or Godneros. In order to
awaken Metalder's sense of justice, Dr. Koga let the Neros
Army take him hostage, getting himself killed in the process.
Metalder's rage allowed him to 'shunten' for the first time
into his armored mode. Thus began a long battle between
Metalder and the Neros Army. In the end, he and his
foe-and-later-friend Topgunder destroyed the Ghost Bank
(Godneros' throneroom) together. Topgunder died by the sword
of Coolgin, but Metalder survived to behead Godneros with a
chop. (Don't hold your breath to see Ryan do this to Grimlord
in VR Troopers, especially now since Metalder footage is no
longer being used.) But before he died, Neros managed to
damage Metalder's Supergravitational Control Device. If left
untreated, Metalder's supergravitational energy would engulf
the Earth and destroy it. Thus Metalder had his friend Kita
Hakkou destroy the Device, preventing him from ever
'shunten'ing back into human form. Like too many Toei heroes
before and after him, Metalder wandered the Earth with
Springer... (Where are all these retired heroes when the
Earth needs them in the 90s? Bandai just designs 'em and
scraps 'em within a year...)
Characters and mecha
Metalder/Tsurugi Ryuusei (Ryan's first Trooper mode in VRT)
A super robot built by Dr. Koga at the end of the Pacific War.
His Reflection Circuit gave him the same feelings as humans.
Powered by 'supergravitational energy,' his killing techniques
include the Super Oscillation Laser Arm chop, the G (for
Gravity) Kick, the Metal Tornado spinning kick, the Head Crash
ram, the Plasma Punch, the Metal Bomber punching attack from
above, and the Thousand Hand Punches. Normally in human form
as Tsurugi Ryuusei, whose looks and personality are directly
modelled after that of Dr. Koga's son Tatsuo. Whenever his
energies reach a peak from rage, with the cry "Ikaru!" (Rage!)
he 'shunten's (lit. 'moment-shifts') into his metallic form.
Like Tatsuo, loves music and plays saxophone from time to time.
Japanese Imperial Navy Second Sublieutenant Koga Tatsuo
The model for Metalder. Dr. Koga's only son. Died October
1944 as the first member of the Kamikaze Special Attack Squads
('tokkoutai'). Loved music and played violin. Would have
been a violinist had it not been for the Pacific War.
Dr. Koga Ryuuichirou
Robotics genius who created Metalder and all the mecha listed
directly below. After the Pacific War, went to America and
became a staff member at NASA. Returned to Japan when he
learned of the existence of the Neros Empire. Shortly after
reviving Metalder, died to give the robot a sense of mission.
Springer (VRT: Jeb)
Robot dog that guards the Silver Carcass. Built by Dr. Koga
before Metalder. Hence was Metalder's 'sempai' (senior) and
'aniki' (elder brother figure). Capable of human speech.
Repairs Metalder and runs the machines inside the Silver
Carcass. Enjoys watching TV, particularly anime.
No, Jeb was not an American idea. Blame Toei for this one.
Note however that no footage of Springer was ever used in VRT;
Springer, unlike Jeb, has a metal torso and collar. Perhaps
such costuming went against American screen animal rights laws?
Sidephantom (VRT: ?)
Metalder's blue, white, and red motorcycle with sidecar.
Capable of flight and splitting into two. Looks awfully
modern for something created in 1945.
Metalcharger (VRT: ?)
Metalder's car, a red four-wheel-drive Mazda Familia (323 in
the US). Transforms into a winged aircraft. Amazing how Dr.
Koga foresaw the exact design of a 1980s car, isn't it?
Silver Carcass (VRT: ?)
A special underground shelter built by Dr. Koga to house
Metalder and all his associated mecha. Emerges above ground
as three rotating silver boxes. The Sidephantom and
Metalcharger launch from it. Contained a bed for repairs and
other equipment. The VR Troopers' headquarters is modelled
after the Silver Carcass' interior set.
Ougi Mai (2-)
Tomboyish camerawoman for the photo magazine Weekly Up.
Tsurugi Ryuusei's first human friend and constant companion.
Ougi Shingo (34-37)
Mai's father. Newspaper reporter based in Washington DC.
Asked by Mai to investigate Dr. Koga's past, finding clues to
Godneros' identity in the process.
Kita Hakkou
Grand Prix motorcyclist intending to be the world's best.
Originally head of a motorcycle gang. Met Tsurugi and Mai on
a photo shoot for a new motorcycle magazine. Hunted from then
on by the Neros Empire. Called himself 'Neros Hunter.' Saw
himself as Mai's bodyguard. Had a thing for Mai. Tsurugi's
rival for her love. Saved Earth by damaging Metalder's
Supergravitational Control Device.
The Neros Empire (VRT: Ziktor Industries)
A secret empire that is the underbelly of the Kirihara Konzern
(German: 'combine'), led by Emperor Godneros and divided into
four armies. Covertly controls the world's criminal
organizations, terrorists, finances, etc. Intends to conquer
the world through economic as well as military means. Has a
rigid ranking system of ten grades, from lowest to highest:
# Title Loose translation
10 Keitoushi Light Fighter
9 Chuutoushi Medium Fighter
8 Kyoutoushi Strong Fighter
7 Rettoushi Fierce Fighter
6 Gekitoushi Furious Fighter
5 Bakutoushi Explosive Fighter
4 Yuutou Heroic Fighter
3 Boukon Violent Spirit
2 Goushou Brave General
1 Gaisei Victorious Saint
Competition to raise one's rank was extremely harsh within the
Neros Empire.
Emperor Godneros (VRT: Grimlord [when sitting; never stood in
Metalder])/Kirihara Gouzou (VRT : Karl Ziktor)
The leader of the Neros Empire. Once Japanese Imperial Army
Technical Major Muraki, assistant to Dr. Koga. (I wonder
whether Karl Ziktor will one day be revealed as Tyler Steele's
former assistant, though 'Grimlord's Dark Secret' implied
otherwise) After the war, built the Kirihara Konzern under the
youthful guise of Kirihara Gouzou. The world believed him to
be a philanthropist at the head of an international financial
empire, but he was actually far more: a master of all sciences
who intended to conquer the world with his robots, monsters,
and yen.
Secretaries K and S
Kirihara's spies. The Robert Palmer 'Addicted to Love' clone
women on VRT are their equivalents, played of course by
different actresses. K and S have never themselves appeared
in VRT. Their VRT equivalents lack their green (K) and purple
(S) supervillainess outfits.
The Four Armies (need VRT equivalents!)
I. The Armor Army
Consists of cyborgs and humans wearing armor.
Victorious Saint Coolgin (VRT: Decimator)
Godneros' right hand in silver ('gin') armor. A first-class
strategist and swordsman. Is a dead ringer for Kirihara
beneath his mask beneath a mask. (The VRT equivalent never
was Ziktor's stand-in.) Rides in the sidecar of the red
Mirage Hasha motorcycle, though once drove the blue Captron
motorcycle. Defeated Metlader instantly with one sword attack
in the former's first battle.
Strong Generals Tagsky and Tagsron, the Tag Brothers (VRT: Slice
and Dice)
Masters of sword and naginata.
Violent Spirit Tubo (VRT: ?)
Samurai-like master of sword and hook.
Violent Spirit Hidouman (VRT: ?)
Master of tachi and spiked ball.
Heroic Fighter Wogger (VRT: ?)
Entire body looks like a collection of grey tubes. Master of
the spear. Later succeeded by lookalike Wogger II.
Heroic Fighter Barlock (VRT: ?)
Former decathlon athlete who kicked down his rival to enter the
Olympics. After his rival committed suicide, he felt shame at
his cowardice and sought out challengers to prove himself.
Wears blue-green tights. Wields a scythe and chain in his
right hand; a clawed gauntlet on his left.
Explosive Fighter Galador (VRT: ?)
Ninja master of magic.
Explosive Fighter Robinken (VRT: ?)
Camoflauge-garbed commando.
Furious Fighter BenK (pun on the samurai Benkei; VRT: ?)
Defeated by Metalder, this modern-day samurai left the Empire.
Died saving captives from the Empire.
Furious Fighter Jamune (VRT: ?)
Boxer with expensive upper body padding.
Medium Fighters Fu Fu Chu and Mukimukiman (VRT: ?)
Half-naked, comical wrestling rejects. Have only appeared in
the background in VRT.
Light Fighters (basic type)
Generic fighters in black tights. Have only appeared in the
background in VRT, if at all. Not VRT's Skugs (see section
5). Found in all four armies and hence will not be mentioned
again.
However, 'Kage' (Shadow) Light Fighters, trained in ninjutsu,
are found only in the Armor Army. The only nonspecialized
Light Fighter of note is the female Madonna of the Armor Army.
Mirage Hasha
Red motorcycle with sidecar for Coolgin's use.
II. The Combat Robot Army
Consists of androids that are Metalder's 'half-brothers.'
Victorious Saint Balsky (VRT: ?)
Leader of the Combat Robot Army. Silver robot with golden gear
on forehead and yellow and black stripes on chest and forearm
armor.
Brave General Galdos (VRT: ?)
Boxer with grey, floor mat-like plating on his head, shoulders,
and thighs. Could discharge electricity through tentacles
from his forehead.
(Former) Brave General Bigwayne (VRT: ?)
Black with grey armor plates. Originally the 'Titan of
Legend.' Now an unranked repair robot. Escaped the Empire.
Fought Metalder to aid his beloved disciple Gochak. Fires
arrows from his right forearm.
Violent Spirit Topgunder (VRT: Darkheart)
Modelled after the fictional manga character Golgo 13. VIP
assassin. Lone gunman in black tights who believed in fair
play. Duelled Metalder alone. Carried a rifle which he
supported with his oversized silver left arm. Even when he
was punished for breaking military law, he escaped to duel
Metalder. Saved by Metalder, he promised to duel again and
went off to the mountains to practice. Eventually, he came to
reject the cowardly ways of the Neros Empire entirely to
become Metalder's ally. Succeeded by Crosslander. Brought
down the Ghost Bank with Metalder, only to be murdered by
Victorious Saint Coolgin. Rides a motorcycle.
(Former) Violent Spirit Crosslander (VRT: ?)
VIP assassin in red and white. The antithesis of his
predecessor Topgunder. Coward willing to do anything to win.
Worked with American terrorist organizations, killing
government officials and receiving a promotion from Explosive
Fighter to Violent Spirit before coming to Japan to kill
Metalder. Wields twin pistols. Had his head damaged by
Metalder; thereafter wore a winged snake ornament on his
forehead.
Light Fighters Goblit and Dedemos (VRT: ?)
Crosslander's assistants. Gunmen in black with rifle and
bayonet (Goblit) and handgun and drill (Dedemos).
Heroic Fighter Jaws (VRT: ?)
Shark-headed fighter in white tights with twin shoulder cannons
and four cannons on his upper arms.
Explosive Fighter Gochak (VRT: ?)
Silver wrestler. When beheaded, grows a cannon head that looks
like a leftover from another show (but isn't?).
Furious Fighter Gebarose (VRT: ?)
Silver with thick thighs, high jumping ability, and a
featureless black faceplate.
Fierce Fighter Zargen (VRT: ?)
Black-robed and skull-headed with a scythe for a left hand.
(Former) Fierce Fighter Rhapsody (VRT: ?)
Plays a Stradivarius.
Strong Fighter Lortail (VRT: ?)
Feminine and white.
Circuladar
Golden motorcycle with rollcage.
III. The Monster Army
Consists of biotechnologically engineered creations.
Victorious Saint Geldring (VRT: ?)
Green muscular beast with skull-like head encased in a
transparent egg-shaped shell.
Brave General Bridie (VRT: ?)
White-furred symbiote with detachable spider on his back.
Violent Spirit Bankora (VRT: ?)
Grey-skinned with white fangs on his chest and legs.
Heroic Fighter Gamadone (VRT: ?)
Brown-skinned with tentacle arms and antennae.
Explosive Fighter Damnen (VRT: ?)
Red-eyed lizard.
Furious Fighter Zakembor (VRT: ?)
Red-eyed cicada.
Light Fighter Hedogross (VRT: ?)
Green and froglike. Married the female slave, Wisdom. Had a
son, Hedogross, Jr.
Captron
Blue motorcycle.
IV. The Armament Army (Both 'yoroi' and 'kikou' translate as
'armor,' but the former refers to body armor while the latter
refers to 'armor' as in a modern 'armored corps.' Thus I
don't call the Yoroi and Kikou Gundan the same thing.)
Consists of walking arsenal robots.
Victorious Saint Dranger (VRT: ?)
Leader of the Armament Army. Red and silver with a tachi
(longsword) in his right hand and five cannon fingers on his
left. Has blades, guns, and lights mounted on his ears.
Brave General Megadron (VRT: ?)
Has circular head flanked by twin shoulder cannons.
Violent Spirit Darbarbo (VRT: ?)
Has missile launchers on chest and shoulders.
Violent Spirit Agmis (VRT: ?)
A walking red and grey torpedo with a spear gun.
Heroic Fighter Barbery (VRT: ?)
Humanoid helicopter.
Furious Fighter Strobe (VRT: ?)
Humanoid fighter plane.
Fierce Fighter Bulchek (VRT: ?)
Humanoid tank.
Vehicles shared by all four armies:
Dryguns (black 4x4 off-road vehicles) and Darkgungarries (black
vans).
The Ghostbank
A ring of gates containing key army officers surrounding
Godneros' throne. The area enclosed by the gates and throne
was used both as an area and as a strategy room. (Generals
Ivar and Icebot in VRT never appear in the VRT equivalent of
the Ghostbank because they are from Spielban. Ghostbank
footage is no longer used in VRT. See section 5 for
information on Grimlord's current staff, based on Shaider.)
The High-Tech Building
Grimlord's skyscraper headquarters in Shinjuku. Still appears
in VRT's second season, though located in Cross World City
(not Tokyo), of course.
Film: Man Machine Metalder (87.7.18)
Metalder had the shortest run of any Metal Hero series. To
compensate for its lack of popularity (among the viewing
public, not hard-core tokusatsu fans) Toei followed it up with
an antithetical series, World Ninja Wars Jiraiya (which I will
reserve for a future mini-Manual) that maintained Metalder's
no- monster-of-the-week approach, but applied it to a
storyline concerning modern-day ninjas (a genre last
represented by Ninja Captors; see my Sentai Manual). Although
Jiraiya had a longer run (50 episodes) and greater popularity
than Metalder (this time among the viewing public and not
tokusatsu fandom), Toei turned once again to technology for
the next entry in the Metal Hero Series, the Robocop ripoff
known as...
7. Mobile Detective Jiban (Kidou Keiji Jiban)
89.1.29-90.1.28
Network: TV Asahi
52 episodes, color
Sundays, 9:30-10:00 (1-9); Sundays, 8:00-8:30 (10-52)
Creator: Hatte Saburou
Directors: Konishi Michio, Okamoto Akihisa, Miyasaka Kiyohiko,
Mitsumura Tetsji, Ogasawara Takeshi
Writers: Sugimura Noboru, Fujii Kunio, Takaku Susumu, Ougisawa
Nobuo, Washiyama Kyouko, others
SFX: Yajima Nobuo
Music: Watanabe Michiaki
Cast:
Tamura Naoto/Jiban: Kusaka Shouhei
Dr. Giba: Leo Menghetti, Iizuka Shouzou (voice only; alias
Hakaider and Sunvulcan's Hellsatan)
Summary
Tamura Naoto, a new detective in Central City, was killed by
Bioron in the line of duty. Dr. Igarashi Kenzou, the man
whose experiments had been responsible for Bioron's existence,
brought him back to life as a robot detective, Jiban.
Eventually, Bioron's Mad Garbo and Rhinonoid killed Jiban, who
then returned to life again as Perfect Jiban. In the finale,
Bioron destroyed Jiban's base and transformed Mad Garbo into a
false Jiban. Jiban defeated his duplicate and ultimately the
Kibanoid, the true form of Bioron's leader Doctor Kiba. The
victorious Jiban then learned that Igarashi Mayushi, the one
civilian that knew his secret, had been his missing younger
sister all along.
(Perfect) Jiban/Tamura Naoto
A robot detective with the soul of a human, designed by Dr.
Igarashi to counter Bioron's Bionoids. Capable of reverting
back to his human identity at will. Holds the rank of police
commissioner. Armed with the Maximillian Type 3, a weapon
with three modes: stick, gun, and sword, each associated with
a certain technique (Disclose Shock, Last Shooting/Search
Buster, and Jiban End, respectively) and the Daedalus
backpack, capable of flight or use as a cannon with the Dalus
Bombard technique. Like Robocop, had three directives:
1. Mobile Detective Jiban can arrest criminals in any
circumstance without warrants.
2. Mobile Detective Jiban can punish criminals on his own
judgment, if he recognizes his opponents to be members of
Bioron.
3. Mobile Detective Jiban is permitted to kill depending on
circumstances.
As Perfect Jiban, he gained the Autoderringer Rifle, the
Needricker drill (right arm attachment), and the Powerbreaker
claw (left arm attachment).
Lezon
Jiban's patrol car, a Corvette with a sixth generation computer
and hence a will of its own.
Bygun
Jiban's motorcycle with a sixth generation computer and hence a
will of its own.
Spirus
Jiban's stealth fighter plane with a will of its own.
Igarashi Mayumi
The only civilian who knew Jiban's secret identity. Lost her
memory in battle. Called Naoto her 'older brother,' only to
find that she really was his lost sister in the finale.
Igarashi Shun'ichi and Shizue
Mayumi's parents, relocated as witnesses to Bioron.
Dr. Igarashi Kenzou (11, 52; Izu Hajime, Kikaider's Dr. Komyouji)
Started the Jiban project to counter the Bioron, the results of
his biological experimentation.
Katagiri Youko
Female detective of Central City. Naoto's senior. Manly
sharpshooter who couldn't figure out that Naoto was Jiban.
Muramatsu Kiyoshirou
Elite detective of Central City with a liking for Youko.
Yanagida Seiichi
Head of the police department. Cooperated with Dr. Igarashi in
the Jiban Project two years earlier. Collaborated with Jiban
after Igarashi's death. Died when Jiban's base was destroyed.
Section Chief Bandou
Central City Section Chief of Detectives. Got headaches trying
to keep the peace in jurisdictions where strange events
occurred, no thanks to Bioron.
Matsumoto Michiyo
Tea server of the Detectives' Section of the Central City
Police Department. Always cheerful and encouraging.
Bioron
An armed force organized by the mysterious scientist Doctor
Kiba intending to take over Japan without damaging its
culture. Hence it preferred narrow attacks to large-scale
destruction.
Doctor Giba (Leo Menghetti)
Brown-haired, bearded human-looking leader and founder of
Bioron. Actually non-humanoid Kibanoid, a biomonster born by
accident from the waste fluids of Dr. Igarashi's National
Science Academy Bio Laboratory.
Marsha and Karsha
The first biolifeforms created by Kiba. His secretaries and
intemediaries between him and his Bionoids. Had two forms,
human and inhuman (Battle Marsha and Battle Karsha).
Bubi and the Mukus
Cute and not-so-cute creatures living in Bioron's base.
Mad Garbo (17-)
A Jiban Killer Cyborg, created by Kiba as an anti-Jiban.
Queen Cosmo (28-46)
A lunar lifeform resembling a human woman (but actually a
floating rocklike starfish with a long tail) intent on
conquering Earth to establish an all-woman empire.
Bionoids
Monsters of the week, often posing as humans.
1. Chamelenoid
2. Nekonoid (neko = cat)
3. Doronoid (doro = mud)
4. Baranoid (bara = rose)
5. Takonoid (tako = octopus)
6. Hagetakanoid (hagetaka = vulture)
7. Kazenoid (kaze = cold [virus])
8. Moguranoid (mogura = mole)
9. Hyenanoid
10. Akumunoid (akumu = nightmare)
11. Uninoid (uni = urchin)
13. Skunknoid
14. Killernoid
15. Ookaminoid (ookami = wolf)
16. Kuragenoid (kurage = jellyfish)
17. Agehanoid (ageha = swallowtail)
18. Hitodenoid (hitode = starfish)
19. Chuushanoid (chuusha = injection)
20. Kanenoid (kane = money)
21. Mushinoid (mushi = bug)
22. Hunternoid
23. Yaginoid (yagi = goat)
24. Jisatsunoid (jisatsu = suicide)
25. Bakuhanoid (bakuha = explosion)
26. Ryuunoid (ryuu = dragon)
27. Mukadenoid (mukade = centipede)
28. Zounoid (zou = elephant)
29. Doublenoid
30. Kabukinoid
31. Shinobinoid
32. Distnoid
33. Raigyonoid (raigyo = electric fish?)
34. Sainoid (sai = rhino)
36. Chambaranoid (chambara = refers to samurai drama film genre)
37. Kamenoid (kame = turtle)
38. Kinokonoid (kinoko = mushroom)
39. Yadokarinoid (yadokari = hermit crab)
40. Panthernoid
41. Uwabaminoid (uwabami = large snake)
42. Tyrannosaurusnoid
42. Namazunoid (namazu = catfish)
43. Cobranoid
44. Suitorunoid (suitoru = suck up)
45. Ikanoid (ika = squid)
47. Unicornnoid
48. Tsuriganenoid (tsurigane = temple bell)
49. Nisehahanoid (nise = fake; haha = mother)
52. Gibanoid
Film: Koumoriblock (koumori = bat), Ammo(nite)block,
Spiderblock, which all combine into the Daigibanoid (dai =
great, big).
Masques
Mass-produced grunt life forms armed with knives and guns. Can
regenerate lost limbs.
Film:
Great Explosion at the Monster Factory of Fear! (89.7.15)
(c) 1995 Marc H. Miyake miyake@Hawaii.Edu
This copyright applies only to this Manual and not to the Metal
Heroes and/or any other properties of Toei, TV Asahi, or Asahi
Tsushinsha (ASATSU).
This document may be distributed in part or in whole as long as
this copyright notice is preserved.